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Joined: Sep 2000
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OP
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Hi Group,
I have a burning peeve that I must post here as part of my ongoing campaign to eradicate it.
I hear in conversation, and on television and radio, from ones who ought to know better, misuse of the term "begging the question."
It is the name for a logical fallacy in which the truth of the conclusion is assumed by the premises. A simple example:
"I am not lying, so it follows that I am telling the truth."
Begging the question does not--I repeat--does NOT refer to a question which "begs to be asked," as I hear more and more in common usage. Let's all vow to not succumb to this improper usage and to shoot it down in every instance.
Ah, I feel much better now.
Thanks!
m.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 393
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 393 |
Agree totally -- it drives me to a pitch of fury. But the previous thread on this topic was so long I thought there was some hope for us logicians yet.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289 |
Well good luck trying to change anything that takes hold on TV and radio. As you must know, much of the perversion of the language can be traced there. Ever since the evil day, now nearly 40 years ago, when a commercial went on TV that said, "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should," the distinction between like and as has been very blurry for the average person (not people like ourselves, of course) (smirking emoticon). Then there is another of my pet peeves, a construction like "She invited Jane and I." I could go on ad nauseam and no doubt others on this board will have more examples, but you may as well abandon hope. Once one of these atrocities gets on the air, people think they are correct (must be, since someone said it on TV or radio) and repeat it, so others repeat it, etc.
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 29
newbie
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OP
newbie
Joined: Sep 2000
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>but you may as well abandon hope<
Would that I could! Hope, my friend, refuses to abandon me.
m.
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
>Would that I could! Hope, my friend, refuses to abandon me. Bring her on. She sounds like the steadfast type we want here 
TEd
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460
addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 460 |
… and what about her mates Faith and Charity!
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Bobyoungbalt : you may as well abandon hope. Once one of these atrocities gets on the air, people think they are correct (must be, since someone said it on TV or radio) and repeat it, so others repeat it, etc.
Bob! There is light at the end of the tunnel and it's the light of knowledge . Our local supermarket recently underwent renovation and, lo and behold, above several "quick check out" areas appeared the sign : "ten items or fewer ! Hurrah! Now, if we can just get management to change the words on the staff vests to May I help you.
Small steps, small steps...
wow
wow
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 393
enthusiast
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enthusiast
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> appeared the sign : "ten items or fewer !
Gotta disagree here. The English for this is "ten items or less".
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
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misuse of the term "begging the question."...a logical fallacy in which the truth of the conclusion is assumed by the premises
If the logicians were so logical they should have called it "Assuming the Conclusion" instead of giving it a name that doesn't describe it so well.
What? Petitio Principii? Gimme a break!
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Joined: Sep 2000
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OP
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>What? Petitio Principii? Gimme a break!<
May the break you ask for be given you.
;-)
m.
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